Tunkhannock man pleads in crime spree

A 29-year-old Tunkhannock man faces up to 41 years in prison and a $70,000 fine for a six-month crime spree last year that finally caught up with him.

William J. Harvey Jr. originally faced 128 charges for incidents that occurred between July 28 and Oct. 22.

On Friday, he entered a guilty plea to just eight counts with the remainder not to be prosecuted at the time of sentencing as long as full restitution is met.

Court records show that on five different occasions, Mr. Harvey purchased merchandise at Gay's True Value in Tunkhannock and paid for it with checks from M&T Bank's Dallas branch.

But there was no money in the account.

Court documents show that Herron Lumber, VanDuzer's Service Station, Dana Hardware, Brick's Market and the P&G Employees Federal Credit Union in Tunkhannock were all targets of Mr. Harvey's schemes, the complaints note.

In one instance, a witness said he drove Mr. Harvey to Herron Lumber in October where Mr. Harvey had purchased a nail gun and drill drivers, and on the same day he drove Mr. Harvey to the Trading Post Pawn Shop in Wilkes-Barre where he sold the nail gun he had purchased just hours before.

-âJonathan G. Clemens, 27, Tunkhannock, to possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 17, 2011, and possession with intent to deliver on Feb. 9, 2012.

-âSean R. Demchak, 32, Meshoppen, to simple assault on Nov. 15. Under an agreement, additional charges with a Nov. 15 incident will not be prosecuted at the time of sentencing except to satisfy restitution.

-âTimothy M. Taylor, 24, Tunkhannock, to theft by deception on March 16, 2012.

-âMichael R. Tyler, 52, Meshoppen, to DUI on Aug. 24.

-âBruce A. Vandermark Jr., 23, Tunkhannock, to burglary on Oct. 5; and resisting arrest on Oct. 9. Under an agreement, additional charges with a Sept. 28 incident will not be prosecuted at the time of sentencing except to satisfy restitution.

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